Game apparatus



March 6, 192s.

S. E. EDWARDS GAME yAPPR'LUS v Filed July 50, 1927 2 shets-snee: 1

lllllllllllllllllllilll wlTNEssEs ATTORNEY March 6, 1928. 1,661,885

Y s. E. EDWARDS GAME APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INYVENTOR WITNESS'ES l Sherwood lZ'da/ard. 19' BY Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

SHERWOOD E. EDWARDS, OF 'NEW' ORLEANS, LOUIS'LAIYJ.

y GAME APPARATUS.

Application led July 30, `1927. Serial No. 209,489. i

The present invention is concerned with a game apparatus which may have a wide apparatus of this character with which such a game of skill may be played, the apparatus rendering the game highly interesting and amusing and permitting playing much in the manner of Athe ordinary outdoor game of marbles commonly played on the ground.

Objects of the invention are to provide a game apparatus of this character which will be simple and practical in construction, rugged and durable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, well suited to the requirements of economical manufacture, and a collapsible apparatus which may be folded intoa comparatively small compass 'when not 1n use.

lith the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the apparatus of the present invention set up in condition for use.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 23 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 4: is an opposite end view.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the apparatus in its folded inoperative position.

In the drawings l have used the reference numeral 10 to designate an upper playing board or field over which marbles are adapted to be hz nd propelled in the customary manner by a player, and aflower board 11 which provides an inclined gravitational return for the marbles.

Preferably, each of the boards 10 and 11 are formed of comparatively light thin stock, are of elongated formation, and provided y with side rails 12 and 13 which prevent the marbles from rolling oft' the sides of either board.

Preferably7 the upper board is slightly shorter than the lower one, and is hinged at one end as by pins 14 to metal platesv or brackets 15 secured to the'outer faces of the rails 13 at one yend of the latter. Board 10 is cut away at one end as indicated at 1G terminating shortof the ends of the rails 12, so that marbles propelled from one end of the Vboard 10 will drop off of the other end thereof and roll back to the player down the board 11 where they are stopped by a cross rail'lr' at the free end of the board. I

The free end of the board 17 is supported upon suitable pads or feet 17a and the other end thereof is maintained in elevated position by an easel 1S.

The easel 18 .is in the nature of a flat plate which in inoperative position overlies the face of the upper board 1G between the ends of the rails 12. Preferably, the same pins 11- which hingedly connect the rails 12 rto `the brackets 15 provide pivots `or t-runnio'ns for the easel 18, so that the latter may be swung through approximately 270o about its pivot vfrom the position of Fig. 6 to the position of Fig. 2.v In this latter position one edge of the easel rests upon the `floor and the other edge of the easel serves as Aa backboard or stop to block rapidly Vmoving marbles passing over the edge of the lupper board and direct them on to the lower return board.

When the member 18 is 1n the position of Fig. 2,' it may be retained against pivotal movement by swinging a pivoted latch member 19 into engagement with a keeper recess 20 formed in the ends of the lower rails 13.

l/Viththe parts in the position of Fig. 2, the board 11 is inclined, and t-he board 10 may be maintained in substantially horizontal posit-ion by a pair of props 21. These props are pivoted as at 22 to the outer faces of the rails 12 near the free edge of the board 10, and include bifurcated free ends 23 engageable with studs 2Liprojecting laterally from the outer faces of the rails 13.

The boards 10 and 11 as above suggested are made of any suitable material, the upper board preferably being covered with a. sheet of felt 25 or similar material which will deaden the noise of the marbles as well as oer enough frictional resistance to prevent unduly rapid rolling thereof.

Preferably, a circle 26 is delineated on the board 1() near the hinged edge thereof. The players put an equa-l number of object marbles in the circle and take turns shooting at them from the4 free edge of the board 10. The object is of course to knock the marbles out of the circle and ott of the board l0, and cause the displaced object marbles and the Shooter or taw to return dou'n the lower board. Suitable penalties may be imposed tor causing either a shooter or object marble to escape from the contines ol' the apparatus by jumping over the easel or the rails of the board.

Obviously various ehanges and alterations nligbt be made in the general `i'orm and arrangement ol tht` parte*described Without departingl i'rom the invention. l'lenee l, do not Wish to limit myself to the details set t'orth. but shall eonsider myself at liberty to malte such changea` and alte ations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A game apparatus of the elaee described including a board constituting a playing field over which marbles are adapted to be rolled. a second board arranged thereundm' constituting an inclined marble-returning runway` said boards being pirotally eonnected together at one end. means for spaeing the boards apart at their other end. an easel for elevating the hinged end of the lower board whereby the upper board may be maintained in substantially horizontal position, the upper board at its hinged end terminating short ot' the lower one'7 whereby marbles rolling ottn of the upper board drop on to the lower one and are returned to the shooter, said easel constituting a stop for blocking the marbles which roll otf of the upper board and directing them on to the lower board.

Q. A game apparatus ot the classv deseribed including a board constituting a playingl field over which marbles are adapted to be rolled, a seeontl board arranged thereunder constituting an inelined marble-returning runu'ay, said boards being pirotally eonneeted together at one end. means lor spaeing the boards apart at their other end. an easel for elevating the hinged end of the lower hoard.r whereby the upper hoard may be maintained in substantially horizontal position. the upper board at iti-a hinged end terminating ehort of the lower one. whereby marblesI rolling oll' ol the upper board drop ou to the lower one and are returned to the shooter. the upper board haring` a ring delineated thereon in which objeet marbles are adapted to be placed.

il. A game apparatus including a pair of boards hingedly eonneeted together atY one end. an easel lor supliiorting the hinged ends olt the boards. means tor supporting the l'ree end ot the upper board in spat-ed relation to the 'l'ree tlfmr-engaging end oll the lower board. whereby the upper board may be maintained in almroximately horizontal positiou. the upper board being eut away near its` hinged end whereby marbles rolling oll' the edge thereof will drop on to the inelined lower board and be returned to the shooter, means for locking the easel in board supporting position. the upper end of the easel eonstituting a baek stop and directing marbles on to the lower board.

Signed at New Orleans in the parish ol`4 Orleans and State of Louisiana this day of July A. D. 1927.

SHERlVOOD E. EDVARDS. 

